The Observation Deck

Just a last minute reminder to everyone that tomorrows fundraiser baseball game is set, we have t-shirts, prizes and funding for a great cause ready.

Prizes include gift baskets generously given to us from many local businesses, Indians tickets to select games this month and next, autographed photo from Indians slugger Travis Hafner that Bobby DiBiasio and the Indians donated for us, and many more prizes like a Electric Power Saw that was donated from Lakewood Hardware.

These prizes will be given away through a raffle.

We are ultimately trying to reach the goal of $9,000-$10,000 for a brand new scoreboard for the beautiful Baseball field at LHS. Coach Gruss said it best when he said "we have a multi-million dollar field, one of the finest in the state, and a $800 scoreboard that works when it wants to."

The funding that recent graduate Eric Converse and I have raised this summer puts us about a quarter of a way to our goal. (Not counting tomorrow's event)

Got a call from Anthony Sinagra today and looks like A.C. Sinagra will donate to the cause, and a few other local business seem to be following the trend. The city is filled with great people like the Sinagra Family that have contributed to the arts and schools throughout many years.

We encourage everyone to come up and enter the raffle, if not take part in a inning or two of great baseball.

Hope to see you there!!!

entry for participants 14 yrs+ is $10 and includes a commemorative T-Shirt. I've seen the design, and it looks great.

the event will go from 10am to ____?

What a wonderful day! What a wonder event! Blue skies and sunshine everywhere.

Eric Converse, a 2007 LHS graduate and Varsity Baseball player, was the brain child behind this special day.

It was well attended. Many current LHS players and coaches came to play baseball. As well as many, many, former Rangers. There were fathers of the players, sisters and brothers of players, all out there hitting, fielding, striking out and making errors too!

In the end, after 8 hours of baseball, the players came in and called it a day. A great day! After all it was a great game for a great cause!

The prizes were fun! Our first stop after church tomorrow will be to Toys R Us!

The best part of it all was that Coach Jerry Gruss was able to stop by with his lovely wife Michelle. He spent two glorious hours at his beloved Lakewood High Stadium both on the sidelines of the football turf, watching the LHS Rangers scrimmage Sandusky Perkins and watching the baseball action on the LHS Baseball Turf.

I can just see that new score board now....

what a great event!

while playing second base today, I couldn't help but turn around to Eric Converse and ask him "Why don't we do this again next year?".

Maybe this will turn into an Annual thing, every summer. I think it would be great.

The funding that Eric's event raised today is very significant. It goes to show that hard work really does pay off. after countless phone conversations with Eric in the past month, I had a blast sitting back with him in the dugout and enjoying the weather and everyone's company. The thrill of giving to a great cause and making a positive impact is something that I wish everyone could experience.

here are the photos, look for an article in the next issue as well as a special letter.
http://lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs/ ... eball-game

Ivor,

The photos really captured the spirit of the game. The fun had by all. The beautiful people from our Lakewood community. I too hope it becomes an annual event.

Maybe next year the money raised can go towards installing heaters in the dugouts. The first few weeks of baseball here in Northeast Ohio are brutally cold.

I think that photo of you 'at bat' would go for some big bucks if auctioned off here on the LO deck. The money going toward the score board.

also...

I can't believe you actually let someone hold and actually use your camera!! LOL.

haha Alex has been my wing man when it comes to taking photos. and who would pay for a photo of my ugly self?